Attachment for car-steps



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 11.

0. MOLENNON.

ATTACHMENT FOR GAR STEPS.

No. 585,692. Patented July 6,1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.. G MOLENNON.

ATTACHMENT FOR GAR STEPS. N0.'586,69Z. Patented July 6, 1897.

1%% iarieswizam Wfi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

" CHARLES MCLENNON, OF SPRING GULOI-I, COLORADO.

ATTACHMENT FOR CAR-STEPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,692, dated July 6, 1897. Application filed November 27, 1896. Serial No. 613,535. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES MCLENN ON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spring Gulch, in the county of Pitkin and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Oar-.

Steps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to attachments for car-steps, and has for its object to provide an improved and simple supplementary car-step adapted to be folded when not in use.

The invention consists in the features of construction hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view with the lower step dropped; Fig. 2, a section through the steps with the lower step dropped, and Fig. 3 a similar section with the lower step closed. Fig. 4 is a detail.

Treads 1, risers 2, and horses 3 constitute a pair of ordinary car-steps. The riser 4 of my invention is hinged, as at 5, beneath the edge of the lowermost tread 1 The tread 6 is hinged to the riser 4, as at 7. A tongue 8, having a slotted end 8, is fastened to the under side of said tread. A rock-shaft 9 is j ournaled in one of the horses 3, as at 10, and in a bearing 11. A rook-lever 12, attached to said rock-shaft, has a bifurcated end 13. A pin 14. passes through the bifurcated end 13 and through the slot .8 of the tongue 8, thus connecting said tongue and said lever. A hand-lever 15 is attached to the exterior end of the rock-shaft. A plate 16 is attached to the steps. Through a slot 17 in this plate extends the end of the hand-lever 15. Lateral recesses 18 are formed in this slot at the ends thereof. Springs 19 are provided to normally urge the hand-lever 15 in the direction of these recesses.

In operation the step is held either fully opened by depressing the lever 15 till it drops into the lower recess 18 or it is held closed by raising the lever to engage with the other recess. A simple movement of the handlever operates my device by its connection through the rock-shaft and lever with the step.

It will be plain that this device may be readily applied to any existing car-steps and will afford a simple, cheap, and durable step for use in stations, replacing at a small cost the inconvenient hand steps or stools used at present.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with car-steps, of a supplemen tal step having its riser hinged beneath the edge of the lowermost tread of said step, the supplemental tread being hinged to the lower edge of the supplemental riser, a slotted tongue secured to the under side of said tread, a rock-shaft journaled beneath the steps at a point above the pivot of the supplemental riser, a rock-lever carried by said shaft, a pin carried by the free end thereof and working in the slot of said tongue, and a lever connected with and adapted to operate the rock shaft,'a plate attached to said steps and having a longitudinal slot through which the lever works and lateral recesses at the ends of said slot, and a spring secured to the outer face of the steps and acting upon said lever to normally urge it in the direction of said recesses, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES MOLENNON.

l/Vitnessesz JNo. J. BREEN, THos. LAWTHER. 

